Beverage container accessory

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to holders for beverage containers. The present invention also relates generally to coasters and napkins that are used in conjunction with beverage containers, especially beverage containers containing cold beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage container accessory that in a collapsed state can be used as a conventional napkin or a coaster and in a non-collapsed state can be used to facilitate the holding of beverage containers, as well as the method of making and using of the present invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a beverage container accessory forcold liquids. More particularly, this invention relates to a beveragecontainer accessory that in a collapsed state can be used as aconventional napkin or coaster and in a non-collapsed state can be usedto hold beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glass bottles and aluminum cans are commonly used as containers forkeeping and serving cold beverages, e.g. beer, sodas, water. A commonproblem experienced by a consumer of cold beverages is that condensationforms on the outside of the container, which means that a consumer'shand gets wet and cold when the container is gripped during theconsumption process. One common solution to this problem is to take anapkin and wrap the napkin around the container to absorb thecondensation. Generally this is only a temporary solution since thecondensation wicks from the surface of the napkin touching the containerto the surface of the napkin touching the hand of the consumer, plus thenapkin has a tendency to lose structural integrity under theseconditions. If the cold beverage is in a can, one solution is to use asturdy, insulated device to hold the beverage container, e.g. a koozie,coozie. These devices are generally made from closed or open cell foammaterials and are designed to be sturdy and to have insulatingproperties. These devices generally have logos or promotionalinformation displayed on the outside since both the manufactures of coldbeverages and the owners of establishments serving cold beverages usethis medium to advertise their respective brands. Historically, beveragemanufacturers have been producing for promotional distribution paperdrink coasters and bar napkins with their advertising logos/messages onthem. These are often distributed free of charge to restaurants andbars.

A number of beverage container accessories have been proposed for hotand cold beverages, e.g., sleeves for containers of hot beverages andinsulated jackets for cans of cold beverages. Generally, the focus forthe sleeves for containers of hot beverages is to keep the consumer'shand from being burnt, while the focus for the insulated jackets forcans of cold beverages is to keep the beverage cold.

Examples of these types of proposed solutions include the following.Egger U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,549 discloses a coaster type holder that isfitted about and carried by containers for liquids such as glasses,bottles, cans, etc. Reineke U.S. Pat. No. Des. 159,525 discloses ajacket-type coaster. Harmony U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,567 discloses aninsulator for canned drinks made from an elongated sheet of cross-linkedpolyethylene foam having a strip of adhesive deposited on one side atone end of the sheet. Kelly U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,303 discloses a beveragecontainer cooler having a flexible foam insulating layer with a coolingsurface. Williamson U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,668 discloses an individualbeverage cooler having a flexible, multilayer thermal wrap with an innercoolant layer which conforms to a container's shape and leaves anopening at the container's top to expose the pouring end. Zills U.S.Pat. No. 4,401,245 discloses a collapsible, insulative beveragecontainer jacket with a pocket sewn on the jacket. Curtis U.S. Pat. No.4,514,995 discloses a knit cover for a beverage container formed as asingle piece seamless rib knit sleeve. Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,280discloses a cover of adjustable size for a bottle. Henderson U.S. Pat.No. 4,540,611 discloses a fold-up insulated beverage containeraccessory. Henderson U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,525 discloses a fold-upinsulated beverage container accessory with a stabilizing support base.Hewlett U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,588 discloses a cooling wrap method ofmanufacture. Guo U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,025 discloses a thermal isolatingsheath for beverage containers which is integrally made by a kind offlexible and elastic thermal isolating material, and is comprised ofmain gasket and a base gasket. Shelby U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,315 disclosesan insulated beverage receptacle holder formed from a substantiallyrigid paperboard sheet having a rectangular body portion having oppositelateral side edges. Downes U.S. Pat. No. Des. 370,600 discloses aflexible insulation device for a beverage container with a handle. RoseU.S. Pat. No. 5,857,615 discloses a container holder having a uniqueshape that facilitates printing of advertising material at apredetermined location on the holder. Welch U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,902discloses an insulated foldable receptacle for containers. Bell U.S.Pat. No. 6,290,091 discloses a hot or cold beverage container accessorymanufactured from a sheet of recycled pressed paper pulp. Mahl U.S. Pat.No. 6,412,686 discloses a thermal insulating sleeve for a container thatis easily converted from a generally planar configuration during periodsof nonuse and into an expanded or open configuration for receiving acontainer during periods of use.

None of these devices are designed to convert from use as a napkin orcoaster to use as a beverage container holder. Additionally, none ofthese devices are designed to convert from use as a napkin or coaster touse as a beverage container holder that is disposed for advertising andpromotion. Other problems exist that are not addressed by these devices.

Improvements are needed to facilitate addressing the condensationproblem on the outside of cold beverage containers, while providing asingle device that can serve as a napkin, a coaster and a beveragecontainer holder. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a beverage container accessory device that overcomes these andother problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage containeraccessory that is operable for converting from a napkin or coaster to abeverage container holder that will hold most beverage containers, e.g.bottles and cans.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that will partially absorb condensation when incontact with the outside of a beverage container containing a coldbeverage.

Still another object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that can accept printing and embossing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that can be easily expanded into an openconfiguration for accommodating beverage containers of varying shapesand sizes, e.g., high ball glasses, low ball glasses, pints.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that is sturdy enough to withstand moderatehandling, e.g., maintaining reasonable structural integrity for theaverage length of time it takes to consume the beverage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that can be formed from a biodegradable and/orrecyclable material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that is capable of being manufactured by existingmachinery, with no or moderate modifications.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that can easily collapse into a substantially planarconfiguration for ease of storage, shipping and dispensing, and will fitinto most current bar napkin holders.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that is easy to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that will provide a moderate thermal benefit byminimizing direct contact of the user's hand with the beveragecontainer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that can be made inexpensively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a beveragecontainer accessory that is disposable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and other objects were achieved, and theabove-mentioned disadvantages overcome, by the present invention, byproviding a beverage container accessory device that can also be used asa napkin, a coaster or a beverage container holder.

The present invention is directed to an accessory for a container, suchas a beverage container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention thebeverage container accessory is comprised of a generally tubular body ofmaterial when in the un-collapsed state. The tubular body of material isfurther comprised of an open first end and a second end forming acentral cavity therein. The central cavity is sized for insertion of abeverage container, e.g. a beer bottle or beer can. The second endprevents the inserted beverage container from falling through thecavity. The inside material of the central cavity is enabled forabsorption of a portion of the normal condensation formed on the outsideof a cold beverage container. The outside material of the presentinvention is enabled for receiving advertising or promotionalinformation, e.g. logos, brand names and the like.

The preferred storage of the present invention is in a collapsed statewherein the present invention is in a generally planar configurationsuitable for vertical stacking of the present invention. The preferreddispensing of the present invention is such that it can be placed in aclosed configuration under a beverage container as an absorbent coaster,or placed in a closed configuration to the side of a beverage containeras a napkin replacement, or opened in an un-collapsed state and having abeverage container placed through the first open end, into the cavityuntil the beverage container comes to rest at the second end of thepresent invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the beveragecontainer accessory if formed from pliable material, e.g., paper,fabric, cotton, linen, linen composite, plastic, cardboard, foamcomposites of paper, fabric, plastic, cardboard or foam and laminates ofpaper, fabric, plastic, cardboard or foam.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the beveragecontainer accessory is comprised of an absorbent material and means forattaching the material to itself to form an open-ended tube, e.g.adhesive, thread, or compression.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means ofinstrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete embodiment of theinvention according to the best modes so far devised for the practicalapplication of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a beverage container accessory in anon-collapsed state with a beverage bottle inserted according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state according to an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state for holding beverage cans according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory in acollapsed state for holding beverage bottles according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory with analternate bottom arrangement in the non-engaged position according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory with analternate bottom arrangement in the engaged position according to analternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessory withleft bottom and right bottom openings according to an alternateembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a front plan view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a top plan view of an unassembled beverage containeraccessory according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a front plan view of an assembled beverage containeraccessory according to the alternate embodiment of the present inventionshown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a front perspective view of a beverage container accessoryaccording to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The drawings show aspects of the invention. As the drawings aredescribed, reference will be made to the present preferred embodimentsof the invention. The terminology used herein to describe the presentpreferred embodiments is for the purpose of clarification. Theinvention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specificterminology used. Terminology used to describe each element should beunderstood to include all technical equivalents that operate in asimilar manner to accomplish similar functions.

The present invention is described in relation to a beverage containeraccessory device. Nonetheless, the characteristics and parameterspertaining to various embodiments the device and methods describedherein may be applicable for other uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is shown asdevice 10, with bottle 5 inserted through opening 20. Condensation 6 isshown on bottle 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, device 10 is comprised of top side 10A, right side10B, left side 10C, bottom side 10D, front side 10E and back side 10F(not shown). Right sealing area 30, bottom sealing area 40 and leftsealing area 50 are preferably sealed with adhesive, but can be sealedwith other methods, e.g. thread, compression, heat and the like. Thecombination of right sealing area 30, bottom sealing area 40 and leftsealing area 50 forms cavity 10H (not shown) into which a beveragecontainer, such as bottle 5, can be inserted. In this embodiment twosquare sheets of equal size are used to form device 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment, also using two squaresheets of equally sized material, is shown where right sealing area 30and left sealing area 50 form a tubular body of material, which allows abeverage container, such as bottle 5, to be inserted into opening 101(not shown) either from the direction of top side 10A or bottom side10D.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a single sheet of material is used and foldedat crease 10G and sealed at right sealing area 30 to form a tubular bodyof material.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a single sheet of material is used and foldedat crease 10G and sealed at right sealing area 30 and bottom sealingarea 40 to form cavity 10H (not shown) for holding a beverage container.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a single sheet of material is used, folded andsealed using indentions 60 formed by compression. Indentions 60 arepositioned such that a beverage can fits into opening 20 (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 7, a single sheet of material is used, folded andsealed using indentions 60 formed by compression. Indentions 60 arepositioned such that a beverage bottle fits into opening 20 (not shown).Indentions 60 can be disposed in varying arrays and in varying shapes,e.g. circles, squares, triangles, irregular shapes. Glue dots 61 (notshown) may also be used such that an inserted beverage container will“pop” open the beverage container accessory until it fits the size ofthe beverage container. Glue dots 61 may be used instead of indentions60, or in combination with indentions 60.

Referring now to FIG. 8, device 10 is formed from a single sheet ofmaterial, folded such that edge 70 is affixed, preferably with adhesiveto front side 10E. Bottom 80 is formed as part of back side 10F and iscomprised of bottom extension 80A, bottom support 80B and bottom tab80C. Bottom tab 80C has means for permanently affixing to device 10,e.g. adhesive protected by a removable cover.

Referring now to FIG. 9, bottom support 80B is folded such that bottomtab 80C adheres to device 10 and forms a bottom operable for holding abeverage container.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. Right cut-out 120 and left cut-out 130 are formed bythe sealing of alternate right sealing area 90 and alternate leftsealing area 110. A beverage container is inserted into opening 20 (notshown) from the direction of top side 10A until the bottom of thebeverage container comes to rest on the floor formed by bottom side 10D.Portions of the base of the inserted beverage container will thenpartially protrude through the apertures formed by right cut-out 120 andleft cut-out 130.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. This embodiment shows that device 10 is formed bytwo circular pieces of material that are sealed together atsemi-circular sealing area 140. Semi-circular sealing area 140 begins atleft end-point 150 and finishes at right end-point 160, staying roughlyequidistant from outer-edge 180, thus forming opening 20 (not shown),wherein a beverage container can be inserted from the direction ofsemi-circular top side 170 into cavity 10H (not shown). Left end-point150 is preferably positioned roughly at 315° and right end-point 160 ispreferably positioned roughly at 45°.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown where the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is cut to formalternate top 190.

Referring now to FIG. 13, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown where device 10 is formed in a tubular shape with topopening 200 and bottom opening 205 forming a sleeve for a beveragecontainer.

Referring now to FIG. 14, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown where device 10 is in a tubular shape with topopening 200, bottom seam 210 and bottom 220 forming an holder for abeverage container.

Referring now to FIG. 15, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown with right sealing area 240, left sealing area 230,right diagonal opening 250, left diagonal opening 260, and bottom 270.

Referring now to FIG. 16, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown with right sealing area 280, left sealing area 290,right upper diagonal opening 300, right lower diagonal opening 310,bottom 320, left lower diagonal opening 330 and left upper diagonalopening 335.

Referring now to FIG. 17, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown with right sealing area 340, left sealing area 400,right upper opening 350, right side opening 360, bottom 370, left sideopening 380 and left upper opening 390.

Referring now to FIG. 18, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown with upper right sealing area 410, right notch 420,lower right sealing area 430, bottom 450, lower left sealing area 460,left notch 470, upper left sealing area 480.

Referring now to FIG. 19, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in the unassembled state. First portion 490, secondportion 510, and bottom portion 500 are shown.

Referring now to FIG. 20, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown where the unassembled embodiment shown in FIG. 19 isassembled by applying adhesive on right adhesive area 520 and leftadhesive area 530, folding and pressing to form the shape shown in FIG.20, with bottom 500.

Referring now to FIG. 21, an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention is shown with top opening 530, bottom extension 540A, bottomsupport 540B and bottom tab 540C. Bottom tab 540C has adhesive area 540Dfor permanently affixing to device 10, e.g. adhesive protected by aremovable cover.

The preferred process of making the present invention is as follows:

-   -   Obtaining a sheet of pliable, disposable material    -   Cutting the sheet to form a first section and a second section        where both the first section and the second section are        dimensioned to be roughly 5″×5″    -   Affixing adhesive along the edges of three of the sides of the        first section    -   Placing the second section on top of the first section with the        adhesive to form a 5″×5″ beverage container accessory blank    -   Pressing firmly on the beverage container accessory blank to        form a beverage container accessory    -   Waiting until the adhesive has dried    -   Imprinting at least one side of the beverage container accessory    -   Stacking the beverage container accessory in a dispensing        container

The preferred process of using the beverage container accessory is asfollows:

-   -   Obtaining a beverage container accessory    -   Positioning the beverage container accessory such that the open        end is facing up    -   Placing a thumb along the near edge of the beverage accessory        container    -   Placing the remaining fingers along the far edge of the beverage        accessory container    -   Moving the thumb and fingers slightly towards each other in        order to open the cavity of the beverage container accessory    -   Placing a suitably sized beverage container into the beverage        container accessory cavity    -   Gripping the beverage container accessory such that the beverage        container is firmly held within the beverage container cavity

Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Thespecification and examples should be considered exemplary only.

1) A beverage container accessory, made from at least one blank ofpliable material, dimensioned and operable for conversion from a roughlyplanar collapsed state to a non-planar non-collapsed state capable offacilitating the holding a beverage container. 2) The beverage containeraccessory of claim 1, wherein said pliable material is fabric. 3) Thebeverage container accessory of claim 2, wherein said fabric is a papercomposite. 4) The beverage container accessory of claim 3, wherein saidbeverage container is a bottle. 5) The beverage container accessory ofclaim 3, wherein said beverage container is a can. 6) The beveragecontainer accessory of claim 3, wherein said beverage container is aglass. 7) A method of making an beverage accessory device, comprisingthe steps of: a) obtaining a sheet of pliable, disposable material; b)cutting said sheet to form a first section and a second section whereboth said first section and said second section are dimensioned to beroughly square; c) affixing adhesive means along the edges of threesides of said first section; d) placing said second section on top ofsaid first section to form a beverage container accessory blank; e)pressing firmly on said beverage container accessory blank to form abeverage container accessory; f) waiting until said first section isaffixed to said second section; g) imprinting at least one side of saidbeverage container accessory; and, h) stacking said beverage containeraccessory in a dispensing container. 8) A method of using a beveragecontainer accessory comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a beveragecontainer accessory with at least one open end, a near edge and a faredge; b) positioning said beverage container accessory such that saidopen end is facing up; c) placing a thumb along said near edge of thebeverage accessory container; d) placing the remaining fingers alongsaid far edge of the beverage container accessory; e) moving said thumband said fingers slightly towards each other in order to form an openingat said top of said beverage container accessory; f) placing a suitablysized beverage container into said opening of said beverage containeraccessory; and, g) gripping said beverage container accessory such thatsaid beverage container is firmly held within said beverage containeraccessory.